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Bewick, Thomas.
A History of British Birds Vol. I Containing the History and Description of Land Birds [with] Vol II. Water Birds.
Publisher: Frank Graham, Newcastle upon Tyne;
Date of Publication: 1971
Stock Code: 10709
Facsimile of the 1826 Sixth Edition, limited to 950 copies. Octavo, pp. [4], iii, [1], xliv, 382; [4], iii, [1], xxii, 432. Illustrated throughout with Bewick’s woodcut illustrations of the birds, and head- and tail-pieces. Publishers’ faux leather in dark green and royal blue respectively, with silver and gilt titles and vignettes to spines and wood-grain and marbled effect endpapers, in price-clipped pictorial dust-jackets. Boards bruised to lower edge and top edges a little dusty (both volumes) otherwise clean bright copies; no annotation or inscriptions. Jackets lightly toned, and creased top edge. A Very Good set. The forerunner of all modern field guides, Bewick’s ‘History of British Birds’ changed the public’s perception of the natural world; it is a landmark in natural history illustration and is one of the most important illustrated books ever printed. This edition is a facsimile of the last edition seen through the press by Bewick himself, and the most complete. Heavyweight so a contribution towards increased postage costs will be requested for overseas delivery. £50.00